Stranger by angrypixels
Summary: He was back. He was not a monster, for that would mean someone she knew had just forgotten what he used to be. He was not a traitor for that was a name for one who had betrayed something that had once existed before. She did not know him. He was a stranger.
Lifting up a cute green dress with white lace, Sakura gave herself a look in the mirror before sighing and tossing the dress onto the bed. She was aiming for confidence, maturity. Not rainbows and cuteness.
Sakura turned around and rummaged through her closet again. She did not have a lot of clothes to choose from though. With the village being destroyed by Pein's invasion and being away for so long for the fourth shinobi war, Sakura didn't actually have the time to pick up a new wardrobe.
After pulling out a few more odd clothes that were obviously bought when she only had half a brain, Sakura managed to pull out a nice close fitting white blouse made of some thin material. Pulling on that and snuggling into a pair of skinny black pants, she admired herself in the mirror again.
She looked like a confident woman, one who knew that she was attractive without the need to show much skin. Some cleavage, but that was nothing astonishing, given the usual shinobi wear that showed more than cover.
As a shinobi, she knew the importance of dressing to impress in certain missions. But for today, she dressed simply to be herself.
With her night attire decided, she quickly cleaned the mess of clothing in her room and sat down to slap on some light make up.
As she lightly rubbed on lip gloss, Sakura heard someone knocking her door and felt a familiar chakra outside.
"Door isn't locked!" she shouted while she grabbed her purse and slipped into a pair of black flats.
Walking out of her room, she saw a familiar figure in her living room poking at a vase filled with roses.
"Ugly." He greeted her without turning, eyes focused on the roses. "These roses…"
"Beautiful, aren't they?" Sakura said as she stepped forward. "And don't call me ugly."
"Did you buy them yourself? As obviously, a person as ugly as you would never receive roses from anyone. I read in a book that some people would in fact buy themselves presents and pretend that they were gifts from other just to show that…"
Out shot a hand that grabbed Sai's chin and Sakura roughly turned his face so their noses were almost touching each other despite their height.
"Sai. They were from a patient. Shut up." She growled before letting go and walking over to the door.
Sakura mentally calmed herself down while she strolled quickly towards Ichiraku while ignoring Sai's questions regarding 'the poor sod who was subconsciously forced into buying roses so as to placate the hot tempered medic nin'.
Sometimes, it was hard not to take offence to Sai's snide remarks when she knew that he just had a misconception regarding socializing. Still, it was better than going to dinner alone.
"Sakura! You're finally here!" shouted Nartuo as he waved her into Ichiraku. Sakura gave him a small smile as she accepted his hug.
"Hope you haven't started eating yet." She said as she sat down with Sai closely following behind. Naruto laughed nervously. "Of course not..." He leaned down and whispered. "You know, I was hoping for a dinner with just the three of us…"
Sakura gleefully smirked inwardly while she gave a polite face of surprise. "Oh, I am so sorry! I thought you meant a reunion for all of us since everyone has been so busy."
Which was why she invited Sai and Kakashi. And Ino. Shikamaru. Choji. Oh and of course Hinata, Kiba, Shino. Can't leave out Tenten, Lee and Neji also.
No way she was going to do a one on one (being Sakura v. Naruto and someone).
She refused to admit that she did not feel comfortable meeting him.
Stealing a glance around the room, she noticed that everyone was enjoying themselves, chatting and catching up. A few bottles of sake were being poured and Sakura quickly grabbed a small cup and sipped a bit. Being a experienced shinobi, upon stepping into the room she had noticed the lone figure who stood in the corner, conveniently using the shadows to hide himself while he quietly surveyed the rest of the room with disinterested eyes.
"Hey forehead." Ino said as she slipped into the seat Sai just vacated. "Looking good today. How was your day?"
Sakura swallowed her sake and placed her cup on the counter. "Not bad. A few meetings with shishou. Hospital wasn't as packed as usual."
"And you had time to go home, shower and change. Good, I am tired of meeting you in blood stained uniforms. "
After a few more moments of idle chat and laughing at Sai's attempt to rile up Naruto, to which he succeeded easily, Ino casually tiled her head towards a certain corner. "Might I ask why he is here tonight? Though he was under house arrest?" She asked nonchalantly.
Sakura discreetly glanced at the figure who had stood unmoving since she came in half an hour ago.
"Shishou decided to allow him out as long as one of us was around to keep an eye on him. Us being me, Naruto or Kakashi. "
"Ah. And he is accepting it?"
"They have an agreement. "
Ino nodded slowly. She knew that as Tsunade's apprentice, Sakura was privy to the almost everything. In fact, Tsunade was fact in the process of dealing with the Elders and had been holing herself up with the other ninja clan leaders and sometimes, even that person himself.
Due to the highly sensitive nature of the meetings, Sakura was forbidden to attend, but she had a good understanding of what was due to happen very soon. She had a hand in helping Tsunade prepare the documents.
"Alright, here's the food! Watch the hot bowls everyone!" Teuchi shouted as he walked into the private room with Ayame, holding trays filled with hot ramen.
Everyone moved away and sat down in empty seats while the ramen was served. It was obviously Naruto's idea that Ichiraku should build a few more floors and even have private rooms to cater to 'ramen parties'. Now, the excuse to not go to Ichiraku due to lack of drinks and privacy was eliminated. That crafty fox fiend.
The night went along somewhat enjoyably. Drinks were freely downed and gossip exchanged. Sakura was thankful that she did not need, nor did the chance arise, to speak to a certain person.
Yet.
But she still kept a casual eye on him. Hokage orders, afterall.
The way he slowly chewed his food as Naruto rambled on about some mission. They way he silently nodded when Kakashi murmured something while hiding his face in his ever-existent porn. The way his chakra flowed along silently along with the rest of the crowd, never spiking nor distinguishing itself as it used to many years before. Blending in, almost invisible yet not entirely forgotten.
This was different. He was different.
And when those onyx eyes landed on her, Sakura was once again at a loss.
What was one to do when faced with the unknown?
She turned her head and gave Sai a hard poke in the ribs, exactly where it was tender.
"Stop calling me ugly, you idiot."
Finally, with everyone's belly filled with too much ramen and sake, the reunion came to a pleasant ending. Sakura watched as everyone trudged along home. A tipsy Ino waved and shouted a little too loudly as she was dragged away by Shikamaru while Hinata blushed furiously when Naruto discreetly asked her out for a date.
Sakura smiled warmly at her departing friends. It was good that they were alive for another day. Having accepted death as part of life that could happen at any waking moment, she knew to cherish every moment of happiness.
"Well, that went well, didn't it teme? Just like the old days." Naruto said as he placed both of his hands behind his head and swirled around to grin at his silent teammate.
Just like the old days. Naruto's words echoed in her mind.
Sakura heard a faint "Hn" in reply. She turned her head to glance at Sai, silently telling him to wait for her. Sai blinked in reply.
Might as well get it over and done with. Sakura turned towards the person she discreetly avoided the whole night.
"Sasuke."
Wasn't it just a name?
He turned his head and watched her with those eyes.
It was a cool night with gentle wind easing through the trees overhead, the namesake of the village. The clear sky was absent of clouds and the pale moon up above silently watched over her beloved home. Peace.
And this peace did not seem out of place when he was concerned. His swaying ebony bangs hung perfectly along his face so as to not obscure his eyes. The gentle moonlight did nothing to hide his high cheekbones and his perfectly aligned nose. His pale, strong neck, a sign of strength. Power. He wore a simple black shirt and pants. Molded to fit his figure, she could see the underlying lean muscles and the silent power that flowed within. His casual stance with his hands shoved in his pockets showed that while he was at ease, he was ready to switch to battle without any hesitation.
And his eyes, shadowed by those long dark lashes. Mysterious. Unreadable.
So beautiful. So unapproachable.
So far away.
She smiled. The smile she gave to many patients and foreign ambassadors. The one to put nervous ones at ease, to calm the angry ones. It was inviting, unthreatening yet neutral.
The perfect way to deal with the unknown.
"The Hokage would like to meet with you at noon. Please meet me at the back entrance. I shall escort you in." She said. Not too fast, not too slow. Firmly.
He contemplated her for a moment, silently absorbing what she said. He nodded.
Sakura continued to smile. "Good night." And with a gentle wave to Naruto and Kakashi, she turned and grabbed Sai's arm and led him into the night.
It was at times like these, when she truly appreciated Sai. Despite the awkward moments and sarcastic comments, he was sensitive man.
Not a word was spoken as he watched her close her door while he gently caressed his throbbing arm with red finger marks.